Florida Considers Religious License Plate
If you are one of those people who looks at license plates when you are in the car, you have probably seen all kinds of vanity plates that tell something about the driver. Some plates have names, organizations, or favorite teams. The purpose is obvious. The plate tells everyone what the owner of the car really cares about.
In Florida, several members of the legislature want to offer a plate that includes a Christian cross, a stained-glass window and the words “I Believe.”
The “I Believe” supporters presented a bill that would have allowed Floridians to purchase an “I Believe” plate for an additional $25. The money would have gone to Faith in Teaching, a nonprofit organization in Florida that supports faith-based school activities.
Supporters of the bill argued that if car owners can purchase a license plate to support their favorite athletic team, then they should also be able to express support for their church.
Opponents argued that the religious plate was unconstitutional because of the separation of church and state. They suggested that if the state passed the bill, it would be endorsing a particular religious preference.
On Tuesday, the bill failed to get through committee so it looks like it will not come up for a vote in this year’s legislative session, but it could still be amended to another bill.
If the bill had become a law, Florida would have become the first state to issue a religious license plate. South Carolina is also considering a similar bill that has already received Senate approval.
Source: CNN
BLOG QUESTION
If you were a member of the Florida legislature, how would you have voted on the bill to offer a religious license plate?
In Florida, several members of the legislature want to offer a plate that includes a Christian cross, a stained-glass window and the words “I Believe.”
The “I Believe” supporters presented a bill that would have allowed Floridians to purchase an “I Believe” plate for an additional $25. The money would have gone to Faith in Teaching, a nonprofit organization in Florida that supports faith-based school activities.
Supporters of the bill argued that if car owners can purchase a license plate to support their favorite athletic team, then they should also be able to express support for their church.
Opponents argued that the religious plate was unconstitutional because of the separation of church and state. They suggested that if the state passed the bill, it would be endorsing a particular religious preference.
On Tuesday, the bill failed to get through committee so it looks like it will not come up for a vote in this year’s legislative session, but it could still be amended to another bill.
If the bill had become a law, Florida would have become the first state to issue a religious license plate. South Carolina is also considering a similar bill that has already received Senate approval.
Source: CNN
BLOG QUESTION
If you were a member of the Florida legislature, how would you have voted on the bill to offer a religious license plate?
2 Comments:
I think that a religious license plate isn't a good thing because it could hurt people's feelings, and it promotes a religious preference. I think that if you are going to make a license plate for the Christian religion, then the Jewish, Buddist, and Catholic religions should have a plate too. It is only fair. Just because you "Believe" doesn't mean that you can hurt people's feelings, accidentally or not. I can see why the bill failed, and I think it was a bad idea.
If I were a member of the Florida legislature, I would have been against the bill. The reason for my objection is that it is unconstitutional, but also, what about all the Jewish Americans'? It is not fair that they can't have a star on theirs, is it? I really think that the people who proposed this really needs to think it through before putting up for passing next year. In conclusion, I think that this whole religious license plate is a waste of time, and not a very good idea.
-Chelsea C.H.O.I.C.E. 7
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